We change them constantly for the 'cool' new updated versions but imagine if it just stayed the same. Imagine if Apple finally decided to say no to having any more updates to the iPhone or iPad. It is only natural to want improvements but how far can they go?
Our media technologies have changed consistently for years allowing new generations to not know a life without mobile phones or Facebook. Imagine if we had the opportunity to venture back in time, back to where internet wasn't even known to the public. Of course, we would have our mobile phones on us as we are never apart. Imagine the questions that would be asked.
"What is that?"
"Google? Who is google?"
If this question was asked today we'd presume they had been living in a cave for the last 20 years but if we didn't have these new technologies what would we do?
The first print newspaper was carved in stone and metal in 59BC and today our technology has converged into one tiny computer we place in our pockets. Smart phones hold everything from music to photos, internet to television, weather to bank accounts. Media has changed, and so have we. Those who lived before the smart phone, before regular internet access have had to adapt into the world of digital technology.
If media was inevitably going to change there would be more face to face communication but no SMS. We would not have online profiles but the people we talk to would know our likes and dislikes through conversation.
But the question is, would we actually want to be without it?
'Heraclitus of Ephesus' is known for his plea on change in the universe, this has relevance to the media for, media is continuously changing. Adjustments to the universe, humans, environment will happen inevitably, and seen as we just keep wanting more, it seems media will simply change.
"By studying the communication system as a whole, we will see that new media do not arise spontaneously and independently - they emerge gradually from the metamorphosis of old media" - Fidler, 1997Mediamorphosis is a term used to explain media change from old to new. Mobile phone services were introduced in 1946, and have developed rapidly since. Mobile phones have decreased in size yet increased in power with much more technical abilities. We even have phones that talk to us. So without this change, we would still be walking about with bricks - They did not have the Facebook app either.
Today, our mobile phones have
Texting, calling, camera, internet, social networking apps, games, music player, radio, news, banking, payments, Bluetooth a light, e reader, GPS... We have everything in one, so surely media change is a positive idea. However; as we become old, technology becomes new.
Will technology take over?
The concept convergence also created media change. Convergence is defined as 'the interlinking of computing communication networks and media content' - Flew. T, 2008. Convergence is split between four categories.
Technological convergence - Old phone, Cassette player = iPhone
Institutional convergence - traditional and new services converge towards the same networks and to use consumer devices for purposes such as telephony, television or personal computing.
Professional convergence - Being able to manage all in one connection to each other.
Cultural convergence - We are a global village people around the world will read, eat, watch and know the same as other cultures. Example; Disney, Mcdonalds, Coca Cola
Hypermedia - "computer applications that present multiple media using hypertextual organisation" - Bolter and Grusin, 1999
Digitization - "makes media files; highly amenable for manipulation by a computer" - Wide, 2000
Interconnectivity - "Capacity to easily connect interactions across different networks" Flew T, 2008The media is always changing, and will inevitably change due to our consistency to spend, want and thirst for more technology developments.
WE WANT MORE!
http://j113-onlinejournalism.blogspot.co.uk/2007/06/mediamorphosis.html
