Media Technologies

This past week we learned about media technologies. I selected four technologies and learned from our instructor the difference between technology and mediums.

1. Social media via Internet.
   
   I looked up some facts about Twitter. According to Friedman, Twitter launched in 2006 and it was called “Twttr”. The founders, Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone raised $1 million in 2007 and the company at that time is valued at $5 million. In 2011, Twitter grows to 100 million active users sending 33 billion Tweets per day. Twitter’s ad revenue is projected at $259 million for 2012.  The most Tweets per second occurred when “Castle in the Sky” hit the TV screens at 25,088 Tweets per second.
   
   Almost 50 percent of the population in North America have a Facebook Account according to 2012 Internet World Stats. But there is a downside to Facebook when it pertains to young women and female teenagers. According to a 2011 article by K. Doerschner, social networking sites are a “predator’s dream.” The report based on several sexual predator cases in Beaver County, Ohio, said that detectives are seeing technology come into play with sexual offenders more and more.
   
   The role of social media is to keep in touch with your friends and family using the Internet. It allows you to “instantly” post messages and pictures, and allows you to communicate privately if you desire.
   
   
2. Cell phones.
   
   Car phones and pay phones have been replaced with handheld portable cell phones. The surge started in the early 2000s as people wanted to be able to instantly contact friends, families, businesses, et.al without putting quarters in a pay phone. As the technology grew, the phones became smart, and now phone companies compete bragging rights for the best Smartphones or iPhones.  The downside is cell coverage. There are still thousands of miles of areas in the United States that do not have a good signal for cell phones. With the Smartphone technology, personal security information is an issue. If you do not have passcode protection and you lose your phone, it is an open invitation to identify thieves. The other downside is everyone is talking or playing games on their cell phones! The upside is you can call virtually anyone from anywhere. If you prefer to not hear a human voice you can text or send a message via Facebook. The new Android phones even have high quality cameras.
   
   
3. Cable Television (MEDIUM).
   
   When I was growing up, we had NBC, ABC, CBS and PBS television stations. I was happy and content with a small black and white TV. As technology has advanced, and Hollywood churning out reality shows, talent shows, movies, and series, the cable companies have gotten fat and happy.  Now the average home is not content with the four major broadcasting companies (Fox being added to the big three) and want more choices. Cable TV has answered their beckon call.
   
   The television is actually a MEDIA TECHNOLOGY. The television became popular in the Baby Boomer era. My parents actually grew up watching the big screen in movie theaters. Think of the amazement when that big screen came to the living rooms across the nation. I remember watching "Ed Sullivan Show" and "Lawrence Welk Show" every week with my Grandma Jane. We were just glued to the TV set. Saturday morning was an exciting time to catch up on the cartoons.
   
   
4. Laptop computers (depending on how used, could be technology OR medium).
   
   Desktop computers are a marvelous piece of technology that really changed our nation and the world. The original models that took up a lot of space, used a lot of energy and were difficult to travel with or move to another room or desk. In today’s media technology, laptops have replaced CPUs, bulky keyboards and big monitors. They do not use a lot of energy, take the space of a large notebook and have memory storage that far outweighs the old desktop models.
   
   Laptops are basically portable computers that allow consumers to take them on vacation, to a business meeting or family reunion. All the new laptops have WiFi capability so you can find a hotspot and be connected to the Internet. The downside to laptops are the bells and whistles such as DVD burner, USB ports, memory card readers are not available on ALL models and can raise the cost to have these additions added. The screens can be difficult for consumers to have a full page view of documents and photos. Docking stations can be a nice addition, and consumers can then hook up printers and widescreen monitors for viewing.