New Media Technologies - Essay Example

Running Header: New Media Technologies Surname: First Names: Student Number: Institution: Course Number: Course Name: Assignment Due Date: Introduction Background information In the past view decades communication technology has witnessed tremendous growth which as seen strong connections between the computing technology and the radical art. In early 1980s, working together with his colleagues, Alan Kay, at Xerox PARC explored ways in which they can network the company in order to reduce the number of individuals who were working for the company by use of the personal computer. Since then a number of changes have been witnessed in many societal setting through cultural change which has been brought about the introduction of the computer systems. Before 1980s, the media only relied on print and analogue technology models such as television and radio (Kazys and Anne, 2008). However, in the last two and half decades, new media technologies such as internet and computer have found their way into the society thus totally influencing the interaction of individuals through these digital technologies. At the onset of the digital media technology, the traditional media forms such as printing have now been transformed and can be done online by use of the Adobe Photoshop and other desktop publishing software. This essay will discuss in detail the term media technology and its implications on culture and social life as well as the different types of new digital media technologies such as mobile telephones, digital TVs and computers and their on space and time. After that some concluding remarks will be made that will out some of the important lessons that will be learned through out this review (Schenk & Campbell, 2003). Media technology New media technology can defined as a new interactive digital device that can be used by the holder to access data at any time and at any place. This device has also the capabilities of assisting one to give feedback, receive information and even participate in community activities by accessing media material. Some of the other capabilities that have been identified with this new technology are the ability to create, publish, distribute and consume media material through the process known as media democratization (Schenk & Campbell, 2003). The distinguishing feature of the new media technology and the traditional media, is that content can be digitized in bits and the element of dynamism in it where data production can be done in real time. In addition, the ‘new media’ technology is also distinguished by the following characteristics which include: it is easy to manipulate, easy to network and compress as well as dense and interactive capabilities through the internet, websites, CD-ROMS, DVDs, Computer games and computer multimedia. All these technologies have developed in order to assist in having a good masterly of the world and therefore new media technology can be said to be device for extending impersonality life to new areas. New media technology devices New media technology devices refer to those tools that are used to link the person with the source of information and they include computers and internet, the digital TVs and mobile telephones. The television technology has continued to evolve over years since it was first domesticated in America in the 1950s. Since then the use of television has become part of everyday life as it is mainly used for entertainment and news access. The use of television has continued to increase its place in the living room in many parts of the world as it is almost universally accepted for entertainment by a very large audience. On the other hand, the introduction of computers and internet has also offered more access to media material (Schenk & Campbell, 2003). Although use of computers and internet was perceived as an office tool, now it is becoming more likeable by many people such as students and business people and even children for its accessibility to computer games and thus making many to accept use it even at their homes. Finally, the latest and the newest media technology that has found it is way into the market is the mobile telephone. Unlike the television and the computer, this technology device is relatively small in terms of size but very powerful in performing media functions. Because of its portability feature, the device is now owned by many people since it can be used anywhere. The device has continued to influence many lives since it can be used to perform many functions which include browsing and making telephone calls and sending short messages at ago (Erika, 2005). Effects of New media technology Culture change In many societies the new media technology has been visualized in away that it can help enhance the individual productivity. Use of media, for example in the United States has been used to simulate the way in which people work by reconfiguring the technology to enhance reduction in labor cost by allowing the use of computer and mobile technology which does not require much human labor to manage. However, important to note is that the use of this technology has not been able to differentiate the private life from the public (Kline, 2000). A good example is that of the Sweden society where people are expected to be transparent in their social life and therefore use of this technology has activated the process of scrutinizing individual life for the purpose of transparency. Use of new media devices, have been associated with numerous cultural consequences in almost all walks of life where the young people, the old, the reach and the poor have not been spared in any way. More apparently the cultural consequences have been witnessed to be eminent among the young people. Even though the technology has been associated with the status simple and an object for fashion, the young people are now using this technology for symbolic significance (Ling, 2004). A good example of a media device that has been greatly exploited because of its distinctive features is the mobile phone which is used to aid the process of networking among the young generation. The mobile communication technology is used to establish, maintain, and demonstrate as well as reinforce social networking. With this regard, the technology has supported the youth to develop their independent identities. A research that was done among college students by (Goggin, 2006), revealed that students in different faculties expressed some attitudes that are similar to their faculties. However, there were some significant differences in attitudes among different age groups. The research found that mobile communication had become an integral part of the young people’s lives. This phenomenon has been attributed to what is termed as the ‘mobile youth culture’ whereby the youth use the device to configure important developments in their lives. Some of the key areas that the young people use phones at include: developing peer relationships, maintaining domestic ties and formation of an identity. The lives of many have also been changed by the media since they use it to plan for their social activities in real time (Kazys and Anne, 2008). On the other hand, internet communication has been used as a tool for cultural change by producing, distributing and consuming cultural and expressive products that have been greatly denied such as literature, performance and visual arts, music, libraries and other archives. In real terms use of internet has greatly influenced the culture of many people. First it has assisted in growth of new ways in which people associate and do business and secondly, the manner in which politicians conducts their political activities. Unlike, the traditional media, it is easy to use the internet to deliver the content at almost zero cost in real time (Habuchi, 2005). Besides, other contents such as weather reports, sports news and news on current affairs, cultural products are on high demand. In using the internet, it is also easy for individuals to send and receive material content without much restriction by the government regulation and legal requirements. In the past many people were accessing these products offline but with the introduction of the internet, it is now easy to buy this material online thus giving new face to the business culture. With the use of internet, culture change is eminent since many business institution infrastructures and legal framework is likely to be rendered valueless (Collins, 2000). New media technology and Social life In many years, new media technology has continued to manifest itself in social life in many ways and it greatly depends on how the devices are used for communication. Use of internet and mobile technology for communication has been classified into two main categories namely: micro and hyper coordination. In micro-coordination the media devices are used to perform logistic activities, redirect the trips that have already been established and make plans on social activities (Brad, 2005). On the other hand, hyper-coordination uses the media devices for expression and chatting with other family members or even friends and relatives through message texting. These two forms of coordination are real influential to personal life’s fashion. In the case of micro-coordination, the devices are used to overcome the traditional limitations of both time and restrictions. Personalization of space and time is always easy with these technologies since it does not matter the distance that the information will travel and the time it will take since the data is transmitted electronically and is done instantly. In this way the social life of individuals is reduced because there is always a possibility of individuals interacting indirectly online rather than one-on-one basis (Preston, 2001). The fact that people cannot meet it means that the effect of social touch is greatly reduced and there is a likelihood that in some few years to come, people will not able to interact one-on-one basis. On the other hand, hyper-coordination is also is a distinctive practice that extends the personalization through mediated interaction. Hyper-coordination involves the expressive use of the internet and the mobile phones for interactions by sending short messages. Use of mobile telephone communication can be termed as sustained interactions if it takes a conversational mode which can vary in length as determined by small talks to chatting and formal conversations (Kazys and Anne, 2008). However, apart from facilitating the communication process between two or more people, the media is also an important instrument the promoting the idea of ‘social fellowship’ among those that are involved. These digital technologies are more preferred among the youth more than the elderly since they are used to pass on and share common information. Given the various circumstances under which digital technology is used, then it is eminent to say that both mobile and internet communication have played a very vital role in strengthening personal bonds for social networking (Caccamo, 2000). Personalization of social networks has also been aided by the fact that the new media technologies are more selective as compared to the traditional communities which are still using the traditional media and for that reason, in the contemporary society we are witnessing the trend where people are connected on person-to-person as unlike in the case of the place-based connectivity. With continued evolvement of more advanced new communication technology, there is possibility that not even place, workgroup or family that is likely to become an independent of the communication node, in other words, every party must be in access to a modern communication technology device. In this case an individual unlike in the traditional society must become a portal for information. And in this sense it can therefore be said that the new digital media has enabled the creation of social networks thus making the society more personal through the creation of personal communication networks (Schenk & Campbell, 2003). Experience of new media technology on space and time As witnessed earlier in this essay, it is true that the use of new digital media technologies has brought into existence unique experiences in the social life in terms of space and time. Most important to note is that both time and space are very important factors to consider when accessing any media or disseminating any information. This is because exchange of material must involve two or more parties and on that sense there must be a meeting point where the conversation has to take place (David, 2007). Time is also considered as one of the important factors because for any media content to bear meaning; it must be delivered and accessed in the real time. In the traditional media, material content was mainly dispersed through print media and radios since by then only analogue technology was present. The truth of the matter is that for data and content to be dispatched and accessed by the intended audience, it must involve two or more parties who must meet at a certain point where the content is to be exchanged (Ling, 2004). During this era, time was of sense since the content had to be produced and published earlier enough in order to reach the intended audience on time. However, with the advent of the digital media technology, place and time factors have a less role to play in dispatching and accessing the content from the media. This is because, through digital media technology, what is more important is the availability of the media device and by this I mean the digital machine that will be used to disseminate the content. Since the information is transmitted electronically there is no point of individuals meeting at any place or worrying about time since the data can be delivered to the targeted audience regardless of the distance in a matter of seconds (Kazys and Anne, 2008). Conclusion In concluding this essay, it is important to state that several areas with regard to the topic ‘new media technologies’ have been extensively reviewed and discussed. The essay has covered the introductory part of the report where the term ‘media technology’ has been broadly described as a new interactive digital device that can be used by holder to access data at any time and at any place. The essay has also discussed the effects of new media technology on both culture and social life of individuals apart from discussing the experience of the new media technology on time and space. However, on my view, with the introduction of the new media technology, I can essay that the society is made of social beings that physically have to interact and in that way they should be able to understand the physical environment that surrounds them (Kazys and Anne, 2008). But this is not case with new media technology where people have been made to behave like robots. References Brad, S. (2005). “Texting Knows No Bounds,” Wireless Week, Retrieved October 25 2011 from, http://www.wirelessweek.com/texting-knows-no-bounds.aspx. Caccamo, R. (2000). Back to Middletown: Three Generations of Sociological Reflections. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Collins, R. (2000). 'Situational Stratification: A Micro-Macro Theory of Inequality', Sociological Theory, 18(1), pp.17-43. David, D. (2007) “How Children Lost the Right to Roam in Four Generations,” June 15, 2007, The Daily Mail, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=462091. Erika, B. (2005). Coming Soon to a Tiny Screen Near You: Forbes.com, Retrieved October 25 2011 from, http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0523/064.html. Goggin, G. (2006). Cell Phone Culture. London, UK: Routledge. Habuchi, T. (2005). Accelerating Reflexivity, in Personal, Portable, Pedestrian: Mobile Phones in Japanese Life. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Kazys, V. and Anne, F. (2008). Place: The Networking of Public Space in Varnelis (ed) Networked Publics. Retrieved October 25 2011 from, http://networkedpublics.org/book/place. Kline, R. (2000). Consumers in the Country: Technology and Social Change in Rural America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Ling, G. (2004). The Mobile Connection: The Cell Phone’s Impact on Society. San Francisco: Morgan Kaufmann, pg 57–82. Preston, P. (2001). Reshaping Communications: Technology, Information and Social Change. London:Sage, 2001. Schenk,M & Campbell,W. (2003). Communication Research and Media Science in Europe. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, pg. 57. Read More

The use of television has continued to increase its place in the living room in many parts of the world as it is almost universally accepted for entertainment by a very large audience. On the other hand, the introduction of computers and internet has also offered more access to media material (Schenk & Campbell, 2003). Although use of computers and internet was perceived as an office tool, now it is becoming more likeable by many people such as students and business people and even children for its accessibility to computer games and thus making many to accept use it even at their homes.

Finally, the latest and the newest media technology that has found it is way into the market is the mobile telephone. Unlike the television and the computer, this technology device is relatively small in terms of size but very powerful in performing media functions. Because of its portability feature, the device is now owned by many people since it can be used anywhere. The device has continued to influence many lives since it can be used to perform many functions which include browsing and making telephone calls and sending short messages at ago (Erika, 2005).

Effects of New media technology Culture change In many societies the new media technology has been visualized in away that it can help enhance the individual productivity. Use of media, for example in the United States has been used to simulate the way in which people work by reconfiguring the technology to enhance reduction in labor cost by allowing the use of computer and mobile technology which does not require much human labor to manage. However, important to note is that the use of this technology has not been able to differentiate the private life from the public (Kline, 2000).

A good example is that of the Sweden society where people are expected to be transparent in their social life and therefore use of this technology has activated the process of scrutinizing individual life for the purpose of transparency. Use of new media devices, have been associated with numerous cultural consequences in almost all walks of life where the young people, the old, the reach and the poor have not been spared in any way. More apparently the cultural consequences have been witnessed to be eminent among the young people.

Even though the technology has been associated with the status simple and an object for fashion, the young people are now using this technology for symbolic significance (Ling, 2004). A good example of a media device that has been greatly exploited because of its distinctive features is the mobile phone which is used to aid the process of networking among the young generation. The mobile communication technology is used to establish, maintain, and demonstrate as well as reinforce social networking.

With this regard, the technology has supported the youth to develop their independent identities. A research that was done among college students by (Goggin, 2006), revealed that students in different faculties expressed some attitudes that are similar to their faculties. However, there were some significant differences in attitudes among different age groups. The research found that mobile communication had become an integral part of the young people’s lives. This phenomenon has been attributed to what is termed as the ‘mobile youth culture’ whereby the youth use the device to configure important developments in their lives.

Some of the key areas that the young people use phones at include: developing peer relationships, maintaining domestic ties and formation of an identity. The lives of many have also been changed by the media since they use it to plan for their social activities in real time (Kazys and Anne, 2008). On the other hand, internet communication has been used as a tool for cultural change by producing, distributing and consuming cultural and expressive products that have been greatly denied such as literature, performance and visual arts, music, libraries and other archives.

Read More