Communication: Understanding Media - Term Paper Example

Mobile Media The media industry has come a long way to make a revolution and change the way people live, interact and think. Over the years the field has made little progress until in the 20th century when dramatic changes and life taking innovations were made to clearly change the way people think and interact. At the moment the world has been reduced to a small global village where distance is just but a word as people can interact with others in any part of the world courtesy of the sophisticated devices invented in the media industry. This work will look at the advantages of the inventions made in the media industry by focusing on the internet, the computer industry and the television which are some of the media industries which have really changed the world in the last century and the beginning of the 21st century. It is important to note that this has not just happened as over the years there have been lagging progress in the various fields with the people concerned making slow progress to serve the people’s needs. However, with the invention of the computers and the internet, and the improvements made in the television industry, one can be able to know what is happening everywhere in the world. The Computers Computers are devices that are programmed in a given way to perform some logical and arithmetic tasks. There are many forms of computers which range from calling devices to note books which are used for various reasons. They have served to help in changing the way people live interact and do their work. This section will look at the advantages they have brought and how they have made our lives easier. First in business computers have been used to introduce a new way of filing where instead of having so many physical files to store the company’s or organization’s data one just stores all the information in a computer and he can retrieve it any time he or she wants. This has reduced the costs of running businesses not mentioning that it has made the work easier and faster as one uses little time to get the files wanted. This increased efficiency has made it easier to run businesses with limited numbers of employees. This is cost effective. Computers have also enhanced and made learning easier. In the past, a tutor was supposed to make notes and then use a white board to show the same to students. In the current era, all one has to do is prepare the notes on the computer using programs such as Microsoft word or power point and project them in class. He can even share the files with the students making learning so easy and effective. With the combination of this and the internet, tutors do not need to attend classes physically. They can even teach using video links where the students meet in a conference room and the tutor in a different location addresses them. The phone industry which is allied to the computer industry has also come a long way to change the way people communicate and interact. As Goscicki (2011), puts it, the phones have also totally changed the way business is done. Using a phone one can make as many transactions as he wants at the comfort of their homes or business places. This has been enhanced by the use of the internet which helps one to link with people in whatever region he wants as long as they have access to the same. Using phones, businesses have thrived and succeeded better due to the fact that it is easier to manage the employees and the clients and ensure that both parties are left satisfied. In the social perspective, phones have improved the way people live socially. Unlike in the past when one had to use other methods of communication such as telegrams or fax and letters which were not only slow but also cumbersome, nowadays one can easily communicate with whomever he wants without having a middle person like in the past. The Internet According to Hughes (2011), the internet comprises a network of globally interconnected computers which communicate using a common protocol. This development has been enhanced by the progress made in the computer industry and the need to make people interact and socialize more easily. Over the years and since its invention, new inventions in the industry have always baffled people and they realized how much they have been missing (Temmel et al.). Use of the internet have facilitated the invention of popular social platforms such as Facebook which was invented by Mark Elliot Zuckerberg and company in 2004. This among others such as WhatsApp, Twitter and LinkedIn have made life better in various ways. First in interaction. Through them people interact easily and get to know different cultures among different people across the globe. They have also helped in marketing. Social media marketing has been the major source of their revenues as businesses took to them to boost their businesses and ensure that they reach the large customer base that is in the social media. According to Jerpi (2013), in this way, consumers have also had the opportunity to sample and come up with the best commodities and services they need and the ones that are fitting their budgets. The social platforms such as LinkedIn which mushroomed with the birth of the internet also helps in job searches where employers can meet potential employees and by analyzing their profiles they can be able to get the best one to do their job. This has been helpful to both parties. Many people rely on the social media to get information (Christian et al.). Since major media houses have their pages (Facebook), and Twitter handles, one can easily track the information he needs quite easily. This has also been used by the same to get a larger customer base and do their adverts there. Money transfer has also been a delicate and risky process in the past. Making transactions could be marred by the possibility of con and robbers who could disappear with the cash anytime. However, with the internet, wire transfer, and use of companies such as MasterCard and Visa and PayPal has made the whole process totally different and secure. One can pay for a commodity from Canada while in the United Kingdom and get it shipped directly to their address. Television The progress made in the industry changed the way people get information. With the digital transmission replacing the analogue one that was used in the past, one can be able to watch almost all channels across the globe for a small fee. This has made it more interesting as one can watch various interesting events such as the world cup or any other event that is happening at a given locality in the world as long as it is being covered. Over the years, the television companies have introduced their websites and links that one can use to watch their channels using their computers. This has increased their customer bases as many people would like to watch some programs when they are in their places of work with their computers. This has been both educational and entertaining (Dantu, 2008). In conclusion, it is important to note that though there are some shortcomings coming with the advancement made in the discussed media industries, the advantages surpass them by far. They have touched all aspects of our lives which range from education, business, the way we socialize and many more (Bargh and McKenn, 2004). As new inventions are being made daily we may never speculate what the next big thing will be. Cited Work Bargh, John. A. & McKenn, Katelyn. Y. A. The Internet and Social Life. 2004. Web. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141922 Cardeans, Christian., Jasper, Sara., Parton, Kristen, Parton., Rose, Jed. & Swartz, Luke. The Internet Effect on Personal Lives. 2000. Web. Available at. Dantu, Sivaprasad. Television affecting Social Life. 2008. Web. Available at. Goscicki, Claire. Study Discovers How Cell Phone Use Affects Social Interactions. The Michigan Daily. March 31, 2011. Web. Jerpi, Laura. Mobile Phones and Society: How Being Constantly Connected Impacts our Lives. The Mobile Issue. Issue 29, June 2013. Web. Temmel, Markus., Theuermann, Martina., Ukowitz, Eva. & Vogrin, Tanja. The Impact of Internet on our Daily Life. n.d. Web. Available at. Read More