Net Neutrality Nosedive

Information might not want to be free anymore: Restricted — and costly — Internet access looms

Your Internet experience could be very different after the most recent ruling on the issue of net neutrality. As CultureMap previously reported, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled against the Federal Communications Commission’s attempt to keep the flow of information on an equal-access basis.

The Federal Communications Commission had attempted to impose penalties based on net neutrality principles and not regulations.

After that ruling, the Federal Communications Commission went back and drew up regulations to address this issue, but those have also been shot down recently by the same court. It determined that companies that provide broadband services are not required to offer equal access to Internet content.

The ruling was based on a 2005 US Supreme Court decision that broadband services are not to be classified as telecommunications services, and the infrastructure is not considered a public right of way.

So what does this mean to the average person?

Much like Don Quixote, the chairman may be tilting at windmills.

For one, this opens the door for broadband companies like Verizon, AT&T and others to charge access fees to Internet content providers like Google, Netflix and much smaller sites. They could also offer priority access through their networks, ensuring companies that provide streaming services don’t buffer when network congestion is like traffic on I-35 ... all of the time.

All this will create additional expenses to those companies, and those will no doubt be passed along to you, the consumer. The decision also opens the door to broadband providers blocking sites that refuse to pay the fees. Without regulation, you could wind up not being able to access sites because they don’t have an agreement with your Internet provider.

So do we rely on the government to create new laws to address net neutrality, or do we let the free market play out and the chips fall where they may?

Federal Communications Commission chairman Thomas Wheeler said in a statement that the commission "will consider all available options, including those for appeal, to ensure that these networks on which the Internet depends continue to provide a free and open platform for innovation and expression." But, much like Don Quixote, the chairman may be tilting at windmills.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts