Media Technologies
With technology in our society growing as rapidly as it has been over the last decade it is no wonder that media technologies are of great importance. The largest media technology that I can think of is the internet. Once the World Wide Web hit our planet the way in which we communicate has and never will be the same. The internet has been a place for businesses to showcase their products, it has allowed instant communication with a click of a button, and has changed the way in which humans interact. To discuss the internet covers many media technologies including Skype, Twitter, YouTube, and other technological forms of communication. Many say that the internet runs our lives. That notion may not be too farfetched when we consider that just about every aspect of our lives can be maintained and accessed from our home computer. That is as long as it has internet access!
Social networks are a specific type of media technology. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Friendster, LinkedIn etc. have taken over human communication. The success of these social networks is overwhelming. They allow for people to reconnect, keep in touch, advertise, and provide entertainment. Social networks started out as a social thing where people could share what was on their minds and talk with friends and family. Before long though these types of networks became prime places for businesses to market themselves, for advertisements to take over websites, and for games and activities to take over the otherwise social outlet. It grow to be a billion dollar idea. I recently saw the movie, Social Network, where the story of how the ever so popular Facebook came into this world. It was amazing the watch this little idea that was created in a college dorm room become a billion dollar franchise where over 500 million people partake in its concept currently. And it is not like Facebook was the first of its kind. There were already popular social networks out there such as MySpace and Friendster. However, Mark Zuckerburg, the founded of Facebook, initially made his network exclusive and it had the ‘cool’ factor. This showed me that a good idea does not necessarily have to be the first of its kind it just has to be different and better than the ones before it. The success of social networking shows the importance of these media technologies.
Media arts are another form of media technology. Digital arts, graphic design, computer animation etc. are all ways in which technology is communication. Media art is used on many websites, blogs, social networks, and virtual advertisements. Take graphic design for example. We are all familiar with the term but I do not think it is consciously understood how relevant it is in our world. “Graphic Design is all around us in our society. It is what drives advertising, attracts us to brands and makes public settings enjoyable or ‘hard on the eyes’” (http://www.piermarketing.com). I think of Nike; the very popular brand of sporting gear. Worldwide someone can see the swoosh that is the trademark design for Nike and know exactly what brand it is without any words for confirmation. It may be a simple design, but ever so powerful. Furthermore, there is a huge market for digital animation. Animated movies do a great deal of business, and Pixar is one of the largest franchises worldwide. Even adults enjoy these movies. The animation is so advanced that the lifelike characters make the movies feel more like reality and less like a cartoon. Art has become so much more than drawing or painting on a pad of paper will colored pencils or water colors. Digital art is where our technological advances have taken us. It has enhanced the aesthetics of our lives and will continue to improve as our technologies get even better.
Electronic media such as video recording, slide presentations, audio recording and online contents are also a form of media technology. With PowerPoint, excel, and websites being such predominant forms of communication these days electronic media is very significant. Professional and academic presentations have never been the same since Microsoft’s PowerPoint came on the scene. PowerPoint allows for a savvy visual aid to accompany any presentation. Often time, individuals learn better when they can actually see what they are aurally hearing. To verbally discuss a graph for instance can be difficult as there are many numbers and details included, but with a PowerPoint presentation a graph can be blown up, highlighted, and easy to comprehend. Also, without electronic media movies and videos that we watch for entertainment would not exist. I think it is another aspect that can be taken for granted since video recording is just there. The amount of detail and elements that go into the filming of a movie, or a music video, or a television show is way beyond my intellectual capacity. Media technologies are all around us. They have become such an essential role in our lives yet we often do not even notice they are there. However, if they were to disappear for any reason, our society would be lost and poignant.
Social networks are a specific type of media technology. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Friendster, LinkedIn etc. have taken over human communication. The success of these social networks is overwhelming. They allow for people to reconnect, keep in touch, advertise, and provide entertainment. Social networks started out as a social thing where people could share what was on their minds and talk with friends and family. Before long though these types of networks became prime places for businesses to market themselves, for advertisements to take over websites, and for games and activities to take over the otherwise social outlet. It grow to be a billion dollar idea. I recently saw the movie, Social Network, where the story of how the ever so popular Facebook came into this world. It was amazing the watch this little idea that was created in a college dorm room become a billion dollar franchise where over 500 million people partake in its concept currently. And it is not like Facebook was the first of its kind. There were already popular social networks out there such as MySpace and Friendster. However, Mark Zuckerburg, the founded of Facebook, initially made his network exclusive and it had the ‘cool’ factor. This showed me that a good idea does not necessarily have to be the first of its kind it just has to be different and better than the ones before it. The success of social networking shows the importance of these media technologies.
Media arts are another form of media technology. Digital arts, graphic design, computer animation etc. are all ways in which technology is communication. Media art is used on many websites, blogs, social networks, and virtual advertisements. Take graphic design for example. We are all familiar with the term but I do not think it is consciously understood how relevant it is in our world. “Graphic Design is all around us in our society. It is what drives advertising, attracts us to brands and makes public settings enjoyable or ‘hard on the eyes’” (http://www.piermarketing.com). I think of Nike; the very popular brand of sporting gear. Worldwide someone can see the swoosh that is the trademark design for Nike and know exactly what brand it is without any words for confirmation. It may be a simple design, but ever so powerful. Furthermore, there is a huge market for digital animation. Animated movies do a great deal of business, and Pixar is one of the largest franchises worldwide. Even adults enjoy these movies. The animation is so advanced that the lifelike characters make the movies feel more like reality and less like a cartoon. Art has become so much more than drawing or painting on a pad of paper will colored pencils or water colors. Digital art is where our technological advances have taken us. It has enhanced the aesthetics of our lives and will continue to improve as our technologies get even better.
Electronic media such as video recording, slide presentations, audio recording and online contents are also a form of media technology. With PowerPoint, excel, and websites being such predominant forms of communication these days electronic media is very significant. Professional and academic presentations have never been the same since Microsoft’s PowerPoint came on the scene. PowerPoint allows for a savvy visual aid to accompany any presentation. Often time, individuals learn better when they can actually see what they are aurally hearing. To verbally discuss a graph for instance can be difficult as there are many numbers and details included, but with a PowerPoint presentation a graph can be blown up, highlighted, and easy to comprehend. Also, without electronic media movies and videos that we watch for entertainment would not exist. I think it is another aspect that can be taken for granted since video recording is just there. The amount of detail and elements that go into the filming of a movie, or a music video, or a television show is way beyond my intellectual capacity. Media technologies are all around us. They have become such an essential role in our lives yet we often do not even notice they are there. However, if they were to disappear for any reason, our society would be lost and poignant.
Importance of graphic design (2010). http://www.piermarketing.com/blog/the-importance-of-graphic-design/
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