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Monday, January 17, 2011

Media Technology Today Lesson #3




 Media Technology 
When hearing the term media technology, one can be a little intimidated at first.  Media technology is all around us.  Nine times out of ten, people use some form of media technology every day.  Being a graduate from MIT is not required to understand what media technology is or how it helps us in communicating.  Media technology surrounds us and can vary from televisions to Facebook's accounts or Smartphone’s to text messaging.  There are antiquated media technologies and new media technologies.  Some of the old technologies are televisions, radio, and cameras.  Some of the new technologies are DVDs, Skype, Facebook, and Twitter.  Let us look at a few technologies that are popular and rather common in this day in time.

Smartphone’s
Smart phones are multi-function phones with computing abilities and features that are not available on standard mobile phones.  This device allows one to make calls, receive emails, download documents, fax, and have faster internet connections.  Another great function of a Smartphone is the capability to add personal PDA’s (personal digital assistants) which created portable organizers all in one.  Some of the most popular Smartphone’s right now are Blackberry, Palm OS, and Nokia E62.

Instant messaging and text messaging
When trying to correspond with another person instantly without every making a phone call, instant messaging (IM) or text messaging are the way to go.  Instant messaging is a very popular form of communicating when using the internet.  When a person opens a Yahoo, AOL or Windows live email account, there is an option to activate an IM account too.  This allows a person to use email like an online chat; a very popular feature on Facebook as well.  Another way to use text messaging is via a cell phone.  This popular communication advice is for quick responses or long conversations by typing messages on a cell phone pad.  Both media technologies are appealing because one can access replies or messages immediately.  However, what makes these two different is that IM allows one to send messages even when a person is off line while text messaging does not.

Internet aka World Wide Web (WWW)
The revolution of the internet has enhanced the way we communicate and use communication more than any other media technology today. The internet has changed the world in many ways. There was a time when we had to wait to see if mail delivered to its destination within 5-7 days.  Now with email, we can receive letters and documents within minutes.  Banking is no longer a long process of waiting in line, waiting for deposits or waiting to pay bills. With direct deposit, bill pay and online banking, everything is literally a click away.  Transferring money has never been easier and easy access to bank statements is just another way we are able to receive instant gratification by using the internet.  Finally yet importantly, social-networking sites have exploded due to the internet.  Now people can connect with friends, families, co-workers, and companies for any purpose, whether it’s to find love, work friendship or simply companionship.

Video sharing or conferencing
Vimeo, Youtube, Skype, or EyeSight by Mac has changed the way we communicate with others in other places, whether in another house, office, city, state or country.  With any of these media technologies, a person can upload videos, share videos, post videos, and even edit videos at their disposal.  Depending on what one’s niche or purpose is, determines which video sharing community they will join.  Most of these communities are free to join making it is easy to begin interacting with friends and family in a completely new technological way.


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