Innovations Reshaping the World after World War 2 - Essay Example

Commercial Innovation: Magnetic Tape Recorder since World War 2 and Section # of EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Second World War led to the emergence of many technological progressions, one of these essential developments was the innovation and development of the magnetic tape recorders, which helped in the development of technological industries which were dependant on it as the basic foundation, and hence set the stage for technological advancement in the postwar era following 1945. This innovation in the recording industry has affected the individuals, businesses, society, governments and the world in general and hence is a breakthrough in the history of the world. Its major implications make it an important aspect of product innovation and development following the World War 2. INTRODUCTION The history of the world is witness to the greatest global military conflict that arose between nations, inclusive of all the major powers divided into two alliances that opposed each other at military fronts, and the world converted from a multi-polar one to a bi-polar one, resulting in the World War 2 that began in 1939 and extended till 1945, and is rightly referred to as the deadliest combat in the history of the world.1 During the war, as the need arose for effective communication means, it was served by technological advancements resulting in some of the major inventions and innovations that led to the progress of mankind. There is a subtle distinction between these two terms: while both relate to the development of new ideas, innovation is further associated with the practical applicability of these ideas. INNOVATION Innovation can be in the form of incremental changes or breakthrough in the existing system. It can be categorized into two forms: product innovation which relates to the introduction of new or improved products into the market, or process innovation which aims at increasing the efficiency in the method of production and delivery of the existing goods or services.2 PRODUCT INNOVATION: MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDER History and Innovation Audio tape recorders, when introduced for the very first time, by Alexander Graham Bell in 1886, were non-magnetic and non-electric,3 research and development was undertaken and after a period of 6 decades, in 1935 the AED engineers and the BASF chemists had developed the magnetic tape audio recorders with collaborative efforts, however this was just mere invention which could not be sold to the market due to certain factors: low quality of the initial invention, time consuming production process because only the run of 1000 meters tape required six hours; less length of recording time available and the sharp needle heads used in the product that tore away the tape and reduced its life span greatly, and thus it led to research and development in the field in order to improve the technology, and by late 1936, BASF technicians were still stuck with the low recording quality of the magnetic tape recorder owing to the DC current added to the signals, hence it led to the conversion to AC bias technology by 1940s and the development of ‘high fidelity’ recordings by Walter Weber of the German broadcasting service. However, due to political tensions in the world and at the military front due to the on-going WW2, this innovation remained a secret, and finally in the postwar period of the Second World War, the innovated magnetic tape recorder was introduced, and hence is duly recognized as an innovation since the Second World War. This breakthrough in the existing technology could be used to record and then reproduce programs of great length, and in addition, they would run automatically. It almost instantly revolutionized the broadcasting industry for it allowed the recording of quality programs of any length before they were aired.4 Its basic component: the magnetic tape, has also served as the pioneer technology in the development of early computers, allowing huge amounts of data to be generated, and stored for longer time spans, and it also allowed rapid and easy access to the stored data. Adoption of the innovation By the early 1950s, the Ampex and Magnecord Corporations created numerous types of recorders that became the most used equipment in broadcasting studios by the advents of the 1950s, and thus radio stations had no more need to rely on live programs, for long programs could be recorded with the help of magnetic tape recorders and the quality was also preserved.5 The innovation in tape recorders in the form of magnetic tapes has triggered the development of other products and services which has led to the advancement of mankind. With the help of Charles Ginsburg, the head of the research team at Ampex Corporation, the firm was able to develop video tape recorders (VTR) in 1951, which captured live images onto magnetic tapes, and later in the 1970s, Sony developed the Video Cassette Recorder, using the magnetic tape discovery, and thus a shift from film recording to magnetic tape recording saw major a uplift.6 IBM computers from the 1950s began using magnetic tape in order to increase the efficiency of their systems. Success Magnetic tape is capable of having long data latency in order to randomly access the storage; in addition it has a larger memory and easier data compression. In contemporary times, tape is still regarded as an alternative to disks, due to its quality of higher bit density and low cost advantage. It was in earlier times that there was no better option than magnetic tape recorders, but with advancement in technology, the consumers in contemporary times have shifted to disk recorders and has reduced the market share of magnetic tape recorders, however, the process of development does give way from one technology to another and the world cannot ignore the benefits given to it by one technology due to the development of a relatively more advanced technology, and thus due to its historical advantages it is still considered as a viable substitute to disk recorders.7 Effects on Individual Businesses and the Business Environment The development of magnetic tape recorders has led to a drastic change in the type of products that were sold by the recording industry prior to its introduction. Radio Stations had to rely on live programs, and spent numerous amounts on delivering live audio broadcasting, with the help of magnetic tape recorders, they were able to pre-program their shows, and air them at their specific timings, this allowed them to make any necessary changes and amendments, and hence the quality of the broadcast was in their hands instead of the speaker completely. It also helped in the development of FM radio service which is widely popular amongst consumers today. Apart from audio recording, magnetic tape recorders have also led to the development of video tape recorders; the pioneer of VCRs is Sony, which used the technology of magnetic tape recording to introduce to the world the first video cassette recorder.8 This development set a standard for all recording companies, and set the basis of their production endeavors. Since the inception of magnetic tape recording facility, companies adapted this technology and developed products like cassette tapes, video cassette tapes and playback devices. Walt Disney used magnetic tape recorders initially to develop films, and increase the quality and efficiency of Disney products.9 Magnetic tape recorders also led to the creation of the sound systems which were consumer based, these were capable of recording and reproducing great volumes of stereophonic sounds, and thus led to a great uplift in the music industry, it had a multiplier effect, and resulted in the development of the recording industry, the music industry, the stimulation in singer’s income and the stereo industry.10 Government Intervention Following the Second World War, the Governments of nations around the world encouraged the development of industries that would lead to economic growth and get the economy out of recession. Hence they encouraged the development of industries, whatever type they may be, in order to stimulate income in the economy. Apart from aviation, automation, weaponry etc. the industry which witnessed a major uplift was the communication sector. Magnetic tape recorders were a development under the communication industry, and later extended into the entertainment industry as well. Hence the Governments worldwide did not resist the development of this innovation, as long as they did not breach the security of the nation, and did not lead to a leak of military secrets. Hence the Governments controlled the format of any sort of audio/visual data that was being aired of transmitted.11 Effects on Society and Individual Throughout history, with the advancement in technology, the world, the society and the individuals have become increasingly dependant upon these technologies. Especially with the progress in the electronic age, the reliance on electronic devices has surmounted. One such technological development was the magnetic tape recorder that took place after the Second World War; it was a breakthrough in the communication sphere of the lives of the people. The main purpose of the magnetic tape recorder is the distribution of audio/video data in the form of recordings, especially music. Tape recorders as compared to attending live concerts and live broadcasts are relatively inexpensive, and more efficient. They can be repeated and listened to again. It has greatly helped the education industry to develop products for the visually impaired individuals, and has led to a major change in the form of education. Lectures can be recorded via the magnetic tape recorders and provided to the individuals seeking education. However, unfortunately, the drawback of magnetic tape recorders is environmental damage, when the tapes which are no longer of demand to the consumers are thrown out, this plastic is non bio-degradable, it does not easily decompose itself and hence needs machinery to decompose it, and hence results in lost finance as well as environmental degradation.12 Who benefited and who lost out As a result of the introduction of magnetic tapes, it led to the development of many related industries as mentioned earlier, hence it was clearly an advantageous development and innovation for the industries which witnessed a hike in their sales, such as Sony and other related tape recorder manufacturers, and it also benefited the computer industry such as IBM. Looking at the greater picture, the governments of various nations would have also benefited from this development, since it made education easier, and thus reduced the illiteracy rate of their particular nation. The government would also receive taxes from the industries that had raise in incomes, and thus this increase in revenue could be spent elsewhere for development, in addition, the stimulation of income in the economy would lead to the end of the economic crunch that the entire world was entangled in after the Second World War ended in 1945. Furthermore, as new industries would develop which depend on the products related to the Magnetic tape recorders, as well as due to increased aggregate demand in the economy, it would increase the demand for labor, and hence reduce unemployment in the world. Thus the society, the government and the individuals would all have gained from this innovation, either directly or indirectly. However, due to the nature of the product, and its wastage leading to environmental degradation, the environment is the entity that loses out directly, apart from the companies that relied on the development of non-magnetic tape recorders, they would have had to change their entire structure and break free from the technological lock of non-magnetic tape manufacturing equipment and machinery, and hence would have suffered financial costs. But overall, it led to the advancement in technology, and set the platform for further developments in the field of communication and entertainment. Conclusion: Good Thing or Bad Thing? In light of the above description pertaining to the development of innovation in the industry of tape recorders, in the form of the introduction of magnetic tape recorders, the effects of the innovation could be weighed in accordance with the value judgment of every individual. For some the self benefit might be held in greater significance as compared to the environmental loss it leads to, while for some it would be of greater eminence to protect the environment and in turn forego any personal gains. Thus classifying this development is very judgmental. However, considering that it is possible to reuse the existing tapes, instead of disposing off the older ones and simply purchasing newer ones would substantially reduce the environmental damage it leads to. Hence if this option is taken into consideration, the environmental loss might be reduced, leaving behind the advantages of the magnetic tape recorders being in greater volume and weight. It is thus essential to consider, that if this innovation had not been developed, the communication industry and the entertainment industry might not have been at the boom stage in modern times, hence it is due to the initial development of this product, and the related developments it led to, which has resulted into the assets that the broadcasting industry, music industry, stereo industry, computer industry etc. have today. Hence it would thus be right to consider this innovation to be good and important for the individual, the society, the governments and the world on whole, for it is some basic technology which sets the stage for the development of bigger advancements in technology. References Billboard Music Week (1962) Audio Fidelity Bombshell has industry agog. Retrieved May 24th from http://books.google.com/books?id=txgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q&f=false David L. Morton (2000) History of Broadcast Technology: 1945 to Present. Retrieved May 24th 2010 from http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/online_exhibit.html Experts (2010) Magnetic Tape: Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 24th from http://en.allexperts.com/e/m/ma/magnetic_tape.htm Engel. F and Hammer. P (2006) A Selected history of Magnetic Recording. Retrieved May 24th 2010 from http://www.richardhess.com/tape/history/Engel_Hammar--Magnetic_Tape_History.pdf Inventors (2010) The history of video and related innovations. Retrieved May 24th from http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blvideo.htm IRIG106 (2010) MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDER AND REPRODUCER STANDARDS. Retrieved May 24th 2010 from www.irig106.org/docs/106-05/chapter6.pdf Newville, Leslie J (1959) Development of the Phonograph at Alexander Graham Bells Volta Laboratory, United States National Museum Bulletin No. 218, Paper 5. Sommerville, Donald (14 December 2008). The Complete Illustrated History of World War Two: An Authoritative Account of the Deadliest Conflict in Human History with Analysis of Decisive Encounters and Landmark Engagements. Lorenz Books. Sony (2010) Sony’s History: Through the eyes of the company’s leaders. Retrieved May 24th 2010 from http://news.sel.sony.com/en/corporate_information/sony_brand Terry Ligard (2009) The use of magnetic fields in tape recorders. Retrieved May 24th from http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/55228.aspx Tutor2u.com (2010) Invention and Innovation. Retrieved May 24th from http://tutor2u.net/business/production/invention-and-innovation.htm Walt Disney (1965) Miss Disneyland 1965. Retrieved May 24th 2010 from http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/attractions/detail?name=EnchantedTikiRoomAttractionPage Read More