Investigating the Culture of Mobile Listening: from Walkman to iPod - Essay Example

IPhone was targeted at young people due to the fact that this generation needs to have music constantly with them and for communication from where they are. iPhone has since become part of our social and cultural universe. The major reason for the wide acceptance of the IPhone even beyond young people was the need to have their music with them without disturbing others. Other features included the ability to choose what you want to listen to while traveling, affordability portability, and communication (McKeon & Pollan, 2006).

IP 4 is a revolutionary device of entertainment for the current generation since it is different from portable devices that existed in the electronics market initially which were limited in features such as the Sony walkman. In this respect, it resulted in significant changes in our lives as well as bringing a totally new concept of portable entertainment since its inception in (Bull, 2006). The representation of IP 4, its association with social identities, its production and consumption, and its regulation in terms of distribution is closely related the modern culture. At the time of its initial distribution, there was fear that it would lead to atomization and individualization of the population thus resulting in the erosion of public life (McKeon & Pollan, 2006). Mark Noll argued in the Christianity Today magazine that Sony walkman poses a serious threat to Christianity in the future because it brought into existence a competitor to the voice of God (Raymond, 1980). However, IP 4 has been received so well within the multicultural society.

Due to the immense need for the portable device during this period, it is unavoidable and several factors have led to the production of IP 4. Initially, typists were to listen patiently to dictations through a recording before starting to type. The available walkman used in the 1980s was designed with expectations of being misused, increased piracy, and was not reliable (Voida, A., Grinter & Ducheneaut, 2006). In this respect, the production of the iPhone in modern culture was inevitable because recording and listening were made effective. In 2010, walkman production was stopped and IP 4 production began. Even though IP 4 has introduced many piracy concerns, it has given journalism a new platform and allowed PlayStation to be what it is today thus helping iPhone to gain a household name (Levy, 2004). It has also changed the entertainments in automobiles thus there is increasing use of portable entertainment devices in cars, buses, trains and other automobiles. As (Levy, 2004) states, IP 4 is designed to be worn, like one’s clothes, as part of one’s self-image or self-styling. Like the Lycra suit of the modern urban cyclist, it is virtually an extension of the skin. It is molded, like so much else in modern consumer culture, to the body itself. Even the earpieces are now grooved to the shape of the ear.”

The evolution of the iPhone shows a remarkable impact throughout the past years with respect to the way people interact with one another, live, or even dress thus has become a lifestyle and fashion as well. While Apple’s “iPhone” is increasingly taking over from Sony Walkman, it is important to note that the impact of the former on popular culture will remain a powerful and continuing legacy (Bull, 2006). This is expected to continue in the future mainly because of the human need for music, fashion, and lifestyle. More creativity is expected in the future as well which could result in having an entire personal music library in our purses and pockets. We, therefore, expect more boundaries to be broken in the future and more advanced portable music players would be in our stores.