NBC Nightly News anchor, Brian Williams, hallmarked the notion, “It’s the User-Generated Generation” in a December 16, 2006 article, “But Enough about You.” In the article, Williams stated that new technologies have created a self-focused society, “The larger dynamic at work is the celebration of self . . . The implied message is that if it has to do with you, or your life, it’s important enough to tell someone.”
American society has evolved beyond the limited information generation. Not long ago, books, news papers and magazines were the few main sources of information. The birth of the radio brought families together in a cozy living room setting nightly. Eventually, broadcast and rabbit ears provided pictures and sound, locking the attention of the nation. Today, satellites, digital technology and the Internet allow so many places to get instant information and stimulation.
According to the article, “Mass Media & Society, A Sociological Perspective on Media,” 98.3 % of households have television sets, 99 % have radios and 65% have cable television. In addition, by 1999, half of households in the United States had computers; one-third with internet access.
But in techno world, 1999 is a century old. Founded in 2005, YouTube is the current leader in online video. It allows people to upload and share video clips across the Internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs and e-mail. Now, any message can be published, recorded and shared worldwide. The Internet entity promotes users to become the broadcasters of tomorrow – it has had a huge impact.
For the first time in a US presidential debate, history was made via the Internet. On July 23, 2007, eight Democratic presidential hopefuls answered questions submitted by YouTube users in a debate. For those who might have missed it, possibly living in cave, replays are accessible.
Virtually anything can be seen or read surfing the web. However, it has not replaced or booted satellite and digital options. However, most viewers pick networks that already agree with their own individual views.
Since the beginning of civilization, the first known occupants strongly desired to communicate and share their ideas and thoughts with others around them. Thoughts and ideas have been recorded on anything and everything that would leave a lasting imprint. Scholars place the beginning of writing at 6,000 BC, with the oldest existing document written on papyrus dating back to 2,200 BC.
The first writers shared ideas over vast distances of time, allowing civilization to develop and people to pass on their accumulated knowledge to future generations. However, we have now become a nation of isolation due to the overload of information.
The latest Ipods have the capability of downloading hundreds, if not thousands of songs, tuning out radio stations.
Internet programs can be set to filter out all unwanted information and lock into the news you want to see or hear.
Tivo, VCRs and DVD players may be tuned into an individuals schedule, but it offers the opportunity to ignore so much more with the help of the fast forward button.
Pay phones, now almost prehistoric, were once a permanent fixture in the community. Heck, even Superman used them as his personal dressing room. However, today land lines are being replaced with cell phones.
E-mail can be check by cell phone while waiting in line at Starbuck’s and breaking news can reach you immediately via text message. If you’re not text-lingo, several text dictionaries are available online.
Typewriters now hide in shame due to the birth of computers. Homework assignments can be edited or completed on a laptop via wireless connection.
Books are still a school requirement, however, Laptops, iPods and cell phones are becoming the main staple in back-to-school purchases. Standard encyclopedias and dictionaries have been replaced by Internet access and handheld electronic devises.
And if that isn’t enough, computers are shrinking in size. Dell’s latest 2.5 pound laptop makes my four-year-old notebook computer look like an elephant.
“Forget pencils and paper. Laptops, iPods and cell phones are the back-to-school must-haves for college students,” stated in the Fresno Bee.
How would Albert Einstein, born in 1879, function in today’s technology saturated environment? Would he emerge himself into all of these things? The German-born theoretical physicist could not have foreseen today’s progress in technology that we take for granted every day.
When I’m isolated on a mountain hike or camping trip, satellite reception is almost nonexistent. However, I no longer carry maps, instead a pocket-held navigator isn’t far away.