Television and Internet - Essay Example

Street Address ST ZIP e-mail phone fax of Paper The Internet The internet certainly has come a long way since the early 1960's and the development of ARPAnet (Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA))(Bellis, 2007). This computer was designed to connect military bases around the country and provide a corridor for the exchange of information. The military was using a very basic version of the internet before most people had been introduced to computers. This technology was most associated with 'geeks' who invested a lot of time and energy into their home creations. The military was using this network to assist with intelligence operations, code breaking, and data management long before computers became the toys of the early 1980's. During the 1980's basic computers were bought by mostly techno-savvy individuals across the country. Some of the first home computers were the Timex Sinclair and the Apple IIC. The programs that would run on these computers were very basic. Compuserve was one of the first communications networks open to civilian use. Compuserve's service provided access to bulletin boards that provided a spot to post messages on specific topics and allowed real time communications via keyboarding much like the chat rooms of today. This 'chat' room opportunity drew many to the internet as a resource for real-time communications as well as providing a forum for posting of ideas and questions. Memberships to these bulletin boards were often anonymous and so freedom of expression took hold when users could identify themselves by 'user names'. With the more developed internet of the 1990's electronic mail (email) gradually replaced phone calls as the primary form of communication. Like any language, email developed its own grammar and syntax over time. Email language consists of mostly short sentences or sentence fragments. Feelings are often conveyed using typographical representations such as: : ) for happy, : ( for sad. Many other typographical representations exist. Another form of conveying feelings in an email is through the use of 'emoticons'. Emoticons are cartoon like images inserted into emails to represent feelings. Some common emoticons are the different renditions of the familiar smiley face such as: There are many other emoticons that are used frequently in email and chat rooms as well as blogs. Other types of language used in emails and chat rooms are also done using typographical representation. The most common one is called shouting and is when something is stated using only capital letters. 'LEAVE ME ALONE!' says a lot more than 'leave me alone'. The use of email and email record keeping has recently been mandated by law and are considered communications. Most notably is the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) rule that requires financial advisors and others in the securities field to maintain copies of emails. Securities firms such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch must keep electronic records of emails sent and received by their employees. The White House is currently embroiled in controversy over the loss of emails. "Millions of White House e-mails may be missing, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino acknowledged Friday. I wouldn't rule out that there were a potential 5 million e-mails lost," Perino told reporters.(Henry, 2007) Like Richard Nixon's White House Tapes, those emails are an important record of communications within the White House and are thus subject to monitoring and record keeping rules. 'Blogs' are the newest addition to the internet. Just about anyone can have a blog and experience being published. 'Blogging' is when someone, or organization, uses a web page format to write about specific topics. The blog also offers the opportunity for feedback from readers of these blogs. Blogs also offer an insider's look at current events. Soldiers stationed in Iraq have been publishing blogs about life in the combat zone. The Department of Defense has begun regulating what can, and can not, be said in a blog by a service member. This is for force protection as any information written in a blog could potentially be seen by the enemy. The most notable blog is Anderson Cooper's blog on the CNN website. Cooper's blog took use through the destruction of New Orleans and its slow rebuilding process. His blog serves much like a letter from the front lines giving first hand accounts of what takes place. The most important contribution the internet has made is to education. Back in the 1960's universities were the only ones besides the military who had access to computers. As computers developed and became user friendly new uses emerged. Colleges began to develop online classes that at first consisted only of bulletin boards and chat rooms where assignments were 'discussed' via keyboarding. With technological advances online classes now consist of real time classes where student log in and have the 'blackboard' that the lecturer uses right in front of them. Real time discussions take place using microphones and conference calls. Students can now pursue degrees in many fields totally online. The University of Phoenix is the largest online university and offers online classes for degrees ranging from associates to doctorial. American Intercontinental University is another that offers courses online that can lead to degree from associates to master's level. The internet has brought a big change to educational options for kindergarten through 10th grade. Often if a child did not fit in at a traditional school they were sent to an alternative education school and were often ostracized and referred to as 'bad'. Schools in the United States are set up with the assumption that all kids are college material. Some kids just aren't. With the advent of online education many students can attend school online. This offers students with difficulties the ability to work at their own level and progress at their own rate. The goal is to boost literacy rates while providing vocational training in addition to the online schooling. Connections Academy is one such school that offers full length courses for student's grades kindergarten to 10th. Literacy rates and self-esteem both rise as a result of the online schooling. Summary - Internet usage has far surpassed anyone's expectations. This technology, when offered to the general public, has taken on multiple usages. It is far more than the tool to connect military communications as it was originally designed to do. The general public has taken this tool and developed new ways of communicating as well as developed a unique language used only on the internet via email, chat rooms, and blogs. Those not familiar with the internet are at a great disadvantage in the net savvy business world. Understanding 'net' specific language and using the 'net' for research is often a required element of education and job acquisition. Television Prior to television families would gather and listen to radio in the evenings. Although the radio brought families together for a short time each day (or week) it did not change the layout of the home or the behavior of individuals as much as television does today. After World War II the television gradually moved into American homes and eventually became a dominate force within the home. It is not uncommon these days to see married couples set up their home with the furniture arranged around the television set. They may often have a television before they have other furniture. In Army barracks televisions are the main attraction in the dayrooms where in the past the pool table ruled. During the 1950's many purchased a television to bring the family together or to help keep children home and out of trouble.(TV Times, 262) To some, television was a solution to juvenile delinquency as it kept children home and away from trouble. Many felt that the television brought families closer together. Some married couples believed that the television brought them closer together. (TV Times, 261) Television has transformed the United States from a country with many dialects to a country with a common language. The regional dialects didn't disappear but exposure to language via television has made it easier for people from different parts of the country to communicate and be understand others. Prior to television many were exposed only to the language spoken around them within their neighborhoods. Television often exposes people to cultures and languages they would otherwise never experience. Television advertising is one of the major routes companies use to promote their wares. Commercials are seen as part of the show in American TV. Commercials also help to promote culture through mass media. It is interesting to go from one part of the country to another and notice teens with their pants worn the same way (slouch pants) or hats worn in a similar fashion. City kids and country kids often dress the same for school because of advertising and promotion of certain clothes or styles. Adults are affected as well as many styles are uniform across the country. Fads take hold faster because of advertising. Anyone who watched the Olympics telecast from Innsbruck Austria in 1976 may recall Dorothy Hamill. She was a figure skater who won the gold medal. After her performance was viewed nationwide girls started appearing with the telltale Dorothy Hamill haircut. Advertising via television has helped define American culture, change it, and create it. Popular shows such as MTV and VH1 have also brought culture into American living rooms (and bedrooms). Music videos and talk shows have exposed Americans to various types of music and dress that they would otherwise never be exposed to. American farm boys often can be found listening to rap music and hip hop that one would only expect to see in the city. Many would argue that television has been a bad influence on American culture and continues to destroy good ole American values. That may be true but television has done much to help society as well. Television has raised literacy rates by providing publicly funded shows that target young children. Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street are often the first shows that children regularly tune in to view. Parents often set their children in front of the television to view these shows as it gives them a break (electronic babysitter) and provides an educational experience for the child. Sesame Street was designed to provide basic literacy skills to young children living in poor neighborhoods. Often, Sesame Street was the first English many Hispanic children were exposed to. By providing these types of shows Public Television was (and continues to) exposing children to language and other literacy/numeracy skills they would need when they entered school for the first time. Television during the 1980's and 1990's also contained literacy programs targeting adults. These programs were often shown during evening hours or on Saturday mornings. The shows targeted individuals who had dropped out of school and wanted to sit for the General Education Diploma (GED). Providing adult literacy education via television has increased literacy rates while being convenient for the learner. Although radio played a big part in informing the public when something significant happened in the country television brought news into the living room as it happened. During the late sixties and early seventies the Vietnam War was brought to homes across the country. This was the first time that a war was broadcast with all its nastiness. The evening news continues to be broadcast in real time and informs viewers of significant events within the last 24 hours. Never in history has a constituency been so informed about what is going on. Television has taken on an even larger role in keeping people informed when significant events take place. Unfortunately some events that are broadcast put into question the proper usage of television. The O.J. Simpson drive from Southern California to his home in Brentwood was broadcast live. People were captivated by the broadcast but the broadcast did not add value to anyone's life. In that case broadcasting it served only as entertainment for viewers. Real time TV provides entertainment with the opportunity to participate with others around the country. American Idol provides a nationwide audience with the opportunity to actively participate in a single event. The televising of the Super Bowl has turned a Sunday in mid winter into a national holiday. Just about everyone knows who is playing and who they want to win. Television, in this case, has altered how Americans spend their time. The Super Bowl has become part of American culture. American culture is often defined by TV. From the time the television is turned on until it is turned off individuals and families are blasted with commercials that advertise their goods. This advertising has become very creative in making it seem like you can't like without their products. A funny result of advertising tampons during prime time had children asking their parents to buy tampons so they could enjoy swimming and bike riding as seen on TV: "Tampax - this was an old commercial that I saw a long time ago, but i've always remembered it because it's just that good. Picture two little boys playing in a living room while a mother sits in the kitchen. The boys have a discussion about not having anything to do, and suddenly one of them jumps up, runs out of the room, and returns holding a box of tampons. He announced "This is what we need!" At the other boy's puzzled expression, he explains "I saw a commercial about this - when you have these, you can go horseback riding, skiing, swimming..." Cut to the mother in tears from laughing so hard." (From One London To Another, 2006) Summary - Television started out as a device used for entertainment. It brought families together to watch such shows as Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and the Wonderful World of Disney. Television provided learning opportunites to adults and children alike by broadcasting such shows as Sesame Street and Cooking With Julia Child. But, over time television has changed. Television shows are watched for entertainment but the commercials, and often the shows themselves, advertise products and services. Movies often have strategically located products and show characters using these products. Ever see a can of Folger's coffee sitting on the counter during a movie or a box of Cheerios on the breakfast table These products and others can be seen in movies and television shows. Television often defines American culture and acts as a unifying force as well. As a result of television advertising teens in New York dress the same as teens in San Diego. And, English is spoken much the same across the country with regional variations. Most importantly, because of television a person from one part of the country can be easily understood by someone in another part of the country. Television has standardized spoken English. Works Cited Bellis, Mary. Inventors of the Modern Computer-ARPAnet-The First Internet. Retrieved 2007-04-13 from http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa091598.htm "From One London To Another". "I see your true colours... best commercials ever" 2006 Retrieved 2007-04-14 from http://23thoughts.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html Henry, Ed and Lisa Goddard. "White House: Millions of e-mails may be missing". CNN.COM Politics. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-14 from http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/13/white.house.email/index.html Read More