Tablet Personal Computer Technology - Coursework Example

Running header: Analytical Paper Student’s name: Name of institution: Instructor’s name: Course code: Date of submission: Tablet PC New media technologies may be described as any type of application that is meant to transfer information through digital means, techniques, data networks and computerized systems (Flew, 2008). New media technologies became prevalent in the 20th century and are more associated with the transfer of information that is meant to be manipulated in a certain way. Most types of these new media technologies are interactive in nature and are known to contain compressed data that is designed to be accessed by different users in a variety of fields and markets. The goal of this paper is to analyze a form of new media technology, the tablet PC to be precise, by defining it, analyzing the response of the market to it and the impact that it has in society. A tablet personal computer (tablet PC) is a computer that is tablet sized but very unique because it has the major features of any other full size personal computer. A tablet PC can essentially be described as a small laptop computer that comes equipped with a touch screen that has the ability to rotate. Tablet personal computers usually run lightly adapted or standard PC operating systems such as Linux or Windows (Pew Internet, 2010). The term tablet PC gained its popularity with the Microsoft Tablet PC that was presented by the Microsoft Corporation in 2001. The term tablet is today used to refer to computer-like devices that are primarily operated by a touch screen. They are usually not intended to run general PC applications and operating systems (Flew, 2008). Technically, most tablet PCs have a display unit of between 7 and 10 inches. Their standard resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels and LED backlighting. Most tablet PCs have a processor with a speed of above 1 GHz and can allow 3G wireless connectivity together with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Flew, 2008). They are powered using electricity but since most of them are portable, they come with lithium ion polymer batteries that have the ability to last for hours. They are also considerably light in weight and some have cameras and mechanical keys to control certain features such as volume (Pew Internet, 2010). Through interviewing various members of the public and asking them to answer a few questions in regard to the importance of the tablet PC to them, a lot of useful information was gathered (Flew, 2008). Statistics were also collected from manufacturers, suppliers, sellers and dealers of tablet PCs so as to find out the rate at which this new technology is distributed and how people have embraced it (Pew Internet, 2010). A recent report from the Infinite research group shows that the global tablet personal computer market has been set to get bigger and bigger as more and more people continue to embrace the device (Servon, 2002). The report revealed that tablet PC adoption is occurring at a much faster rate than peer technological devices such as mp3 players, computers, DVD players and smart phones. The shipment of tablet PC into other countries was found to have hit an all time high in 2011 with 16.1 units being delivered (Pew Internet, 2010). These numbers are set to increase to 147.2 million by 2015 if the trends continue to be the same. The mobile computing market now features tablet computers as a key component. The demands of the mobile society today are driving the sale of the tablet PC higher and higher (Flew, 2008). More and more people want to have access to computers everywhere they go and the tablet PC could not have come at a better time. It has become a personal favorite to many who wish to use the computer when they are on the go. Infinite research is one of the leading strategic consulting and market research firms and the President of the firm, Mark Ritorto, was quoted saying that the adoption of the tablet PC is taking place at a much faster rate as compared to the other new media technologies. The rate at which people are embracing and buying the tablet PC is quite encouraging (Flew, 2008). The tablet PC is being embraced at this rate because it is helping people to have access to computers away from home or in the office. The new media technology industry has responded positively to the invention of the tablet PC and has seen more and more companies invest in the manufacture of this device because of its perceived importance (Pew Internet, 2010). The device has revolutionized the industry and different players are always trying to outdo each other by manufacturing the best designs of tablet PCs with the latest features and specs so as to attract more customers. To the consumers, the tablet PC has also been received very well. The response of the consumers to this new media technology device shows that it is an invention to reckon with (Flew, 2008). The table PC also has a few implications on various aspects of the economy, society and culture. Technologies such as the invention of the computer have had many impacts on the economy, society and cultures of different people and regions (Servon, 2002). Historically, the computer did not start having impacts on people recently. Its use has always been brought about some arguments in regard to the way it affects the users, their cultures, societies and economies. Economically, the tablet PC can be said to have boosted the economies of many regions (Flew, 2008). The Infinite research group reports that the sale of the tablet PC has helped many companies to stay in business while earning different countries revenue. The tablet PC can also be said to impact the economy in the sense that it has enabled people to conduct their businesses from any given point. People have been able to conduct business from remote locations and communicate with each other (Servon, 2002). This has promoted various economic activities that require people to keep in touch. It has also done so by linking different people and regions. The amount of information that this device can store, manipulate and transfer has also proved to be very substantial, thus promoting the existence and continuity of various economic activities. On the other hand, the tablet PC is not a cheap device to acquire and many people have had to dig deep into their pockets to acquire the device. The tablet PC is relatively costly and many people are economically stable so as to afford it (Pew Internet, 2010). The tablet PC has also had a lot of impacts on society by affecting people’s cultures and traditions. One major example is that the tablet PC has enabled mobile learning to take place. Face to face interactions between learners and their instructors have reduced because of the internet and the tablet PC. People can remotely access knowledge and information without necessarily attending classes physically. This means that the tablet PC has impacted social interactions by reducing the amount of times that people interact physically (Flew, 2008). The tablet PC has also contributed to the digital divide by creating a much wider gap between those who own computers and those who do not. The tablet PC has also linked different societies, countries and people because it has opened up a unique communication channel that has enabled people to keep in touch from all over the world (Pew Internet, 2010). According to the tablet PC has sometimes been accused of lowering creativity and productivity because it gives people the chance to spend too much time online, some simply chatting or accessing sites that are not necessarily productive (Flew, 2008). Since the tablet PC can access the internet very easily from any location with internet access, it enables people to carry the internet everywhere they go (Pew Internet, 2010). The tablet PC has impacted users both positively and negatively. Users have been positively impacted in the sense that they can now make use of computer applications everywhere they go (Flew, 2008). The device is very portable and convenient to be carried around and can allow people to make use of computer functions anywhere they are. The device has also allowed people to keep in touch and have the ability to constantly communicate with each other over the internet. E-learning has also been made much simpler with the advent of the tablet PC. Learners can now access class notes or even attend lectures virtually, thanks to the tablet PC. People can now store and process their data in this portable and very small device, thus eliminating the need for numerous paper files and documents or the traditional computers (Pew Internet, 2010). Users have also been impacted negatively by the tablet PC. This is in the sense that the tablet PC is very portable and allows one to carry it around and access the internet from different locations (Pew Internet, 2010). This means that the users of these tablet PCs can end up spending too much time surfing the internet or chatting with friends and relatives until they become unproductive. Social interactions have also been affected in the sense that people no longer have to do things face to face with the advent of the tablet PC (Flew, 2008). In conclusion, the tablet PC is one form of media technology that is very new in the market. It has been received well and has been bought by millions of people from all over the world. This is because of the numerous advantages that are associated with it. Even though it has a few implications as discussed in the essay, the advantages outweigh its disadvantages and make it one of the best forms of new media technologies. References Flew, T. (2008). New Media: An Introduction, Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. Pew Internet. (2010). Internet, broadband, and cell phone statistics. Retrieved from, http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Internet-broadband-and-cell-phone-statistics/Report.aspx Servon, L. (2002). Bridging the Digital Divide: Technology, Community, and Public Policy, Malden, MA: Blackwell. Read More