How the iPod Changed Society - Research Paper Example

 Social issues and technology – the case of the iPod iPod is a portable media player, designed and marketed by Apple that has not only changed the way people listen to music but also the way people buy music. Since its first launch in 2001, it now has variations such as video iPod and touch screen iPod. As with other digital music players, iPod also serves as an external storage device. The storage capacity differs across models and ranges from 2GB to 160GB (Wikipedia). The iPod can play audio files of several different formats and has the ability to display images of several formats as well. Video games can also be played on several versions of the iPod. iPod has changed people’s lives in many ways. iPod’s design is aesthetically pleasing and has all the necessary functions with a straightforward interface. The design has kept evolving and the current design is as thin as a pencil with the thickest iPod being just half an inch thick. This gadget has a profound impact on the people and the society. The iPod is very simple to use, can accommodate a large amount of data in a very small space, allows the owner to build personal collections, accommodates a variety of formats and also enables to owner to share playlists (Veith, 2006). iPod is more than another MP3 player. People have become obsessed with the iPod because it gives them control. People are able to control their space, their time and their interactions (Song, 2006). This gives them happiness that they are in charge of their immediate environment. iPod allows people to maintain their own private space as it helps them to reclaim their own world instead of being bombarded with media messages. This serves to give them the much needed confidence. Overall, iPods have a positive effect on the society. They maintain personal space, encourage self-expression and strengthen community. Mass communication has allowed the public sphere to invade into the personal sphere. Listening to music has both physical and emotional effects on the people because the brain’s musical networks and emotional circuits are connected. Apple understands that music holds a very special place in the minds of the people and hence they developed the device which is easy to use, easy to carry and easy to love (Song, 2006). The iPod is no longer an instrument but has become a part of people’s lives. They consider it to be an extension of their body, a part of their memory and a part of their identity. As the number of songs that they can carry around with them is phenomenal, they find that they can surround themselves with the sound they want (Song, 2006). Because they feel they have power over their environment, they enjoy life more. Carrying around an iPod projects a positive brand association of the users and it also conveys the message to others that they want to be left alone. iPod has become a part of every day life for people. Instead of burning a CD with favorite numbers, people use iPod to draw up a playlist and load it on to the iPod. Children come into the world to the sound of the iPod as parents use this to play it during labor (Snell, 2006). iPods can create tighter bonds between people in person and also virtually (Song, 2006). There is a developing culture centered around the iPod. When people participate within the iPod community, it gives them a sense of belonging. Interaction between people increases through webrings, forums, the iTunes music stores and general platforms where music is discussed. Many, who would generally not like to interact, because of the internet, are able to communicate with others, when it comes to sharing tunes and files. This enables them to bring together perspectives and opinions and many are able to take a decision based on exchange of information. Being able to carry their music collection with them at all times, helps them to further develop their taste of music. This helps the people to discover themselves, become multi-dimensional and know their taste in music. iPOds enable self-expression through color choice, size, selection and other features. Moreover, other devices have also been aesthetically designed. iPods are used for podcasting which is one of the fastest growing technologies. Podcasting is of keen interest to academicians, practitioners and other technologists (Shim, Shropshire, Park, Harris & Campbell, 2007). Universities have launched a variety of programs which utilize technology and are evaluating podcasting. Podcasting is used to provide university or department news to staff and students using the RSS feed which serves to supplement the traditional paper version of the newsletters. Podcasting technology is also being utilized to make guest lectures available to wider audiences like the alumni and staff who are unable to attend the lectures. Podcasting has brought about temporal and spatial flexibility as consumers can download and listen to what they want when they want. They can watch the program anytime anywhere thereby changing the media experience. Such flexibility has offered the educational environment with interactive communication between teacher and students. Online users can freely subscribe to their choice of content sources across the web and they can listen to or watch only those programs. Podcasting is used as a classroom support and the instructors have direct control over the podcasts. iPod is an example of resolving issues of intellectual property rights, payment mechanisms and format accommodation (Veith, 2006). Such arrangements like Apple/iTunes could become the predominant way that recorded music is sold to consumers. A personal device like iPod is more like an information pod that makes it very easy to collect things that we have seen or read, something what users would like to save. It is also an easy way to view and find what people have liked and saved. It is a storage unit, a self-contained device with everything necessary to find, view and exchange materials. However, there is a flip side too. iPods have also negatively impacted the society. The iPod is isolating people as they find solace in being by themselves. The way people interact has changed or rather interactions have reduced. A “virtual friend” cannot replace an “actual friend” (Song, 2006). Many fear that this is causing irreversible damage to the society. iPods preoccupy a person to such an extent that an individual no longer feels obligated to interact with other factors in daily life. People may like to surround themselves with something familiar but it is leading to an isolated society. While people think that public sphere invades the private space, actually people bring their personal spheres into the public space. Moreover, interactions between people are reducing as people are becoming more dependent on devices to keep them occupied and happy. iPods have become a major deterrent to conversation because people find it acceptable to converse while listening to music. This is not a healthy sign for social relationships. iPods have increased the number of thefts in different ways. iPods as such are being stolen and so are music files from others’ computers. Computer stores are facing problems because people walk in to the store, plug their iPods on to the computer and steal programmes and files (Song, 2006). It has increased illegal music downloading. iPods are being used to project the brand image of the individuals who use them. They want to be known not only by the brand of the device but also by the type of music they listen to. They feel that this creates a positive first impression on the person before they meet but at the same time, strong preconceived notions can be detrimental to the development of healthy relationships (Song, 2006). iPod is becoming a brand when people phrase “which iPod are you” implying personalization (Hepworth, 2007). Apple further uses phrases such as “there is no limit to where it will take you” which appeals to the sensual and the need for excitement. This iPods have impacted the way people live, interact, buy music, listen to music, have relationship with others and how they de-stress. It has also impacted the educational system because of the spatial and temporal flexibility it offers the universities and the audience. Consumers can download only what they want and listen to it or watch the videos where they want and when they want. It has enabled people to build their own image because they like to be known by the brand of the iPod they carry around. Glued to the iPod also signals others around not to disturb the consumer. It is in reality making the society self-centered and isolated from the environment. However, it has enhanced networking of another sort. People interact with many people on the internet through web forums, chat sessions and other networking sites. They read and listen to reviews which help them make a decision on what to buy. iPods have become a social threat as thefts of different kinds has increased. Theft of files and music downloads have become common and there has to be a regulating authority to stop this from affecting the society. While it enables people to carry their albums around in their palm, it is creating a society that would only be concerned for themselves. References Hepworth, M. (2007). Knowledge of information behaviour and its relevance to the design of people-centred information products and services. Journal of Documentation. 63 (1):33-56 Shim, J. P., Shropshire, J., Park, S., Harris, H., & Campbell, N. (2007). Podcasting for e-learning, communication, and delivery. Industrial Management & Data Systems. 107 (4):587-600 Snell, J. (2006). Five years of the iPod. Macworld; Dec2006, Vol. 23 Issue 12, Wikipedia. P 9-9 Song, K. (2006). Some Call It Culture, Others Call It Cult Activity. Retrieved online 05 February 2009, from http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~krystles/iPodCulture.html Veith, R. H. (2006). Memex at 60: Internet or iPod? Journal Of The American Society For Information Science And Technology, 57(9):1233–1242 Wikipedia. iPod. Retrieved online 05 February 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod Read More