Digital Technologies - Essay Example

Digital Technologies Subject Professor University/Institution Location Date Digital knowledge new horizons for human art of thinking and create knowledge. Possibilities for digital technologies to offer knowledge Digital knowledge is currently an interesting phenomenon involving creation, distribution and storage of information against the analogue modes of recording and dissemination of information. Digitisation has allowed media convergence. This has facilitated processes like remediation where one media form is adapted by another and transmedia storytelling which is the extension of story worlds and plot lines across the different media channels and delivery which inflect differently for different uses. These processes allow narratives and genre to shift and evolve with the users and audiences becoming familiar with reworking of media forms and content. Most media has grown from pre-existing technologies to modern mass media which reaches diverse and large audiences. Continual changes has led to shift from analogue to the recent digital an aspect that relates to the development and media convergence bringing together media technologies, texts and other industries including film, print, television, telephony, audio and computing that were in the past mainly separate. Digital knowledge therefore offers interesting components to the society and serves effective representation of educational, economic, cultural, social and political aspects that pertains to its audience (Wasko & Faraj 2005). Through an approach of technological determinism digital technologies which carry the content and products change human perception of the world and practices within it. It is thus important to realize that digital media determine consciousness and social changes. The ideals of digital knowledge seems feasible and thus it then matters to influence the design, production, uses, marketing and foreseen and unforeseen consequences. Technologies therefore have intrinsic properties which then have necessary and general influence effects of changes in communicating and understanding (Sambamurthy, Bharadwaj & Grover 2003). Technologies influences communication, thinking, interacting and creating knowledge. This can particularly be realized through the way digital knowledge is currently used and transforming areas like education, business, work, family life, entertainment, friendship and leisure. After ways in which digital knowledge is used, it can shape the place, time use and relations between activities of public/private, home/outside-home, work/non-work spaces. Within home or private it is possible to use time and space differently particularly with TV use, since it is possible to catch-up with viewing online compared to the past fixed programs and broadcast schedules (Grant & Baden‐Fuller 2003). Grant & Baden‐Fuller (2003) further argues that, in community and commercial contexts today, digital knowledge largely influences its users in communicating and creating knowledge. It is through such knowledge that ‘global village’ has allowed immediacy of content and meaning across vast geographical locations. There has been an optimistic current diffusion of social media which fulfills the dreams of limitless, free information and democratic participation. Efficient sharing of information in turn impacts on human thought, psychology and perception opening more opportunities to think and contribute. Digital knowledge promotes particular ways of reading, viewing and experiencing meaning of information. As Sharma, et al (2008) argues, digital knowledge caters for diverse and wider audiences through contents that stimulate greater choice. This encompasses coverage of the real life experiences, inclusion in documentaries, fantastic movies and sessions. There are variety of skills and knowledge used to deliver content of natural, social and historical varieties that interest diverse audiences. Its diversity, inclusion, collaboration and partnership are significant in knowledge creation and development. Higher resolution from diverse public figures, senior managers in industry, agencies, directors, sports and media personalities are vastly covered. The resulting knowledge, advices and experiences deliver public value in thinking and economic benefit. This knowledge has become necessary for individual as well as the groups through individual communication, learning and knowledge sharing taken by emails and instant messages. Small group communication, learning and knowledge sharing has been mediated through forums, social networking and micro blogging. Mass communication involving unlimited number of recipients are using websites, blogs and streaming video. One of the widely used devices in current digital technology is mobile phone. It has developed into powerful digital device which create moving images. It has been of significance in capturing crisis situations, natural disasters, and political protest in remote regions with other million of instances around the globe. These images are immediately uploaded in Social Media via Internet then distributed at any point of the world in real-time. In this era of participatory media clips and images sharing and gathering of information and momentum of situations is promoted by crowdsourcing. The process achieve perspectives which are absent with traditional journalism and mainstream media. An important aspect of digital knowledge is open participation where instant feedback is possible allowing different perspectives which might promote more objective insights to human beings. Digital technology has provided potential benefits in communicating and learning. In particular, social networking enables people to explore diverse interests in a global scale and discuss them with various people. A significant impact has influenced self-learning with information and wide resources available. An example is Twitter great capabilities for its users which makes communication, collaboration and learning quick and simple. People are continuously updated from news of many fields and context. The mode of limited characters in communicating may allow audiences to focus on the central argument and make participation lively. Generally, it is a platform where divergence of ideas, thoughts, objectives and goals are then converged through problem solving skills allowing diffusion and knowledge creation (Wasko & Faraj 2005). Wasko & Faraj (2005) further argues that, Websites like Wikipedia are available and useful for wide contents, lots of information from various languages. Since the information is continuously controlled and improved by the community it provides neutral and comprehensive information that will lead to opened thinking and knowledge development. Facebook, YouTube and Google have also transformed the online learning with its tools being very useful in improving academic and social environments. People share documents, articles, images and communicate via integrated video chat. They also allow publicizing of things most cared about including news, stories, personal achievements and political opinions. According to Greenhow, Robelia & Hughes (2009), teachers and students use them also in course management and promoting responses. Video lectures are also an interactive way in which people who are far can improve thinking and learning from other likeminded or experts. Digital technologies combine easy ways to access information through apps, dictionaries and translations. Instantaneous learning is provided about anything and the technology creates participatory culture mostly involving the young people in learning. People who interact with contents of digital technologies enhance their creativity. Watching these films, like the magical contents enables fantastic imaginary creation of worlds and enhance people capacity of viewing the world and to act in multiple perspectives. This develops the audiences’ imagination and helps them think more imaginatively. Magical thinking depicts supernatural events and the ability of construct alternative world which requires much imagination. The audience then uses the content for entertainment and also for divergence thinking and advance imagination. Other genres like fantasy, coming of age, adventure, thriller and mystery adds references and cultural meanings. Digital technologies offers platforms for fact finding through brainstorming bringing together divergent thinking, unlimited and free flow of ideas. Brainstormed ideas, solutions and facts contributed are accepted with analysis and criticism. Through deferred judgement there is high probability in generating new ideas. This is provides the basis of defining day to day problems and to implement accepted solutions. The creative processes will help people overcomes barrier as they involve divergent-thinking. Global participation call for neutrality and with increased problem definitions facts, ideas, potential solutions and criteria for evaluation and implementations of those ideas is provided. The process allows convergence of ideas; with the most promising ideas selected. The involved members can weigh limitations of viewpoints, thoughts and arguments and improve accordingly. If such processes are to be adopted and practised through digital technologies means, people perceive their creativity and practice it promoting knowledge development (Leonardi & Bailey 2008). Draw backs digital technologies pose for knowledge The growth in surveillance techniques is attributed to digital technologies. This has begged the question of people privacy. Since the digital technology has capacity and is efficient in collecting information in space and time, some forms of surveillance need specific regulations to assure privacy and reduce intrusion to personal details and coverage to the public. To some extent, surveillance has currently been abusive and excessive. The public will require protections against these unjustifiable media practices. Uncontrolled use of digital technology, and its prominence, capabilities and capacities means that, contemporary technology and tools shape the society. Knowledge learning and consumption has resulted to a collective process. However, an ideal public sphere should involve participation, non-discrimination, and autonomy, analytical and rational debate. New technology use specifically the Internet has been a prediction engine which creates and refines assumptions. This has led to an intelligence system which responds or acts according to previous favorable actions. Individual’s ability to share and compare insights and information is diminished by overarching beliefs in common knowledge. The world continues to be recreated from familiar and this limit learning and insights. This also diminishes the way people think about themselves and the world. Digital age has blurred identity (Jenkins 2006). As Jenkins (2006) argues, traditional media technologies used to filter content. The web embracing of wide characteristics; access, participation, reciprocity, peer to-peer communication has less censorship. New technologies control news and politics that are desirable thus ignore the rest useful content for the public. As much information is acquired in real time there is high tendency of human exposure to gross content, with violence, gossip and sex. Humiliating, embarrassing and offensive issues may lead people to psychological obsession. References Grant, R. M., & Baden‐Fuller, C. (2003). A knowledge accessing theory of strategic alliances. Journal of Management Studies, 41(1), 61-84. Greenhow, C., Robelia, B., & Hughes, J. E. (2009). Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship in a Digital Age Web 2.0 and Classroom Research: What Path Should We Take Now?. Educational Researcher, 38(4), 246-259. Jenkins, H 2006, ‘Photoshop for Democracy: The New Relationship between Politics and Popular Culture’ Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York UP, 217-50. Jenkins, H 2006, ‘Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide’, NYU press. Leonardi, P., & Bailey, D. (2008). Transformational technologies and the creation of new work practices: Making implicit knowledge explicit in task-based offshoring. MIS quarterly, 32(2), 159-176. Sambamurthy, V., Bharadwaj, A., & Grover, V. (2003). Shaping agility through digital options: Reconceptualizing the role of information technology in contemporary firms. MIS quarterly, 237-263. Sharma, R. S., et al 2008, ‘Beyond the digital divide: a conceptual framework for analyzing knowledge societies,’ Journal of Knowledge Management, 12(5), 151-164. Wasko, M. M., & Faraj, S. (2005). Why should I share? Examining social capital and knowledge contribution in electronic networks of practice. Mis Quarterly, 35-57. Read More

There has been an optimistic current diffusion of social media which fulfills the dreams of limitless, free information and democratic participation. Efficient sharing of information in turn impacts on human thought, psychology and perception opening more opportunities to think and contribute. Digital knowledge promotes particular ways of reading, viewing and experiencing meaning of information. As Sharma, et al (2008) argues, digital knowledge caters for diverse and wider audiences through contents that stimulate greater choice.

This encompasses coverage of the real life experiences, inclusion in documentaries, fantastic movies and sessions. There are variety of skills and knowledge used to deliver content of natural, social and historical varieties that interest diverse audiences. Its diversity, inclusion, collaboration and partnership are significant in knowledge creation and development. Higher resolution from diverse public figures, senior managers in industry, agencies, directors, sports and media personalities are vastly covered.

The resulting knowledge, advices and experiences deliver public value in thinking and economic benefit. This knowledge has become necessary for individual as well as the groups through individual communication, learning and knowledge sharing taken by emails and instant messages. Small group communication, learning and knowledge sharing has been mediated through forums, social networking and micro blogging. Mass communication involving unlimited number of recipients are using websites, blogs and streaming video.

One of the widely used devices in current digital technology is mobile phone. It has developed into powerful digital device which create moving images. It has been of significance in capturing crisis situations, natural disasters, and political protest in remote regions with other million of instances around the globe. These images are immediately uploaded in Social Media via Internet then distributed at any point of the world in real-time. In this era of participatory media clips and images sharing and gathering of information and momentum of situations is promoted by crowdsourcing.

The process achieve perspectives which are absent with traditional journalism and mainstream media. An important aspect of digital knowledge is open participation where instant feedback is possible allowing different perspectives which might promote more objective insights to human beings. Digital technology has provided potential benefits in communicating and learning. In particular, social networking enables people to explore diverse interests in a global scale and discuss them with various people.

A significant impact has influenced self-learning with information and wide resources available. An example is Twitter great capabilities for its users which makes communication, collaboration and learning quick and simple. People are continuously updated from news of many fields and context. The mode of limited characters in communicating may allow audiences to focus on the central argument and make participation lively. Generally, it is a platform where divergence of ideas, thoughts, objectives and goals are then converged through problem solving skills allowing diffusion and knowledge creation (Wasko & Faraj 2005).

Wasko & Faraj (2005) further argues that, Websites like Wikipedia are available and useful for wide contents, lots of information from various languages. Since the information is continuously controlled and improved by the community it provides neutral and comprehensive information that will lead to opened thinking and knowledge development. Facebook, YouTube and Google have also transformed the online learning with its tools being very useful in improving academic and social environments.

People share documents, articles, images and communicate via integrated video chat. They also allow publicizing of things most cared about including news, stories, personal achievements and political opinions.

Read More