Ch 4 Citizen Marketers: Everyone is a Publisher; Everyone is a Broadcaster
We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us.
Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
It’s hard to believe how media has evolved. Romans, one of history’s greatest civilizations, used to carve into stone in order to broadcast their news. Johann Gutenberg’s moveable type propelled us to the point we are now, and it’s been an amazing transformation.
In the Internet age, there have been blogs, pod casts, RSS feeds, and so many new technologies such as Tivo. Much like when Gutenberg enabled everyone to start reading with moveable type, the Internet enables everyone to be a broadcaster or at least be technologically savvy. Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba says that these technologies, especially Myspace and Youtube are “democratized,” meaning that anyone can navigate them to express themselves (90). It’s like a New Age of Reason or Scientific Revolution, although different tools are used. There are so many new Internet technologies to learn, and it makes me wonder what technology which we thought was new and advanced in the past, if any, will be rendered obsolete.
1 comment:
"...what technology which we thought was new and advanced in the past, if any, will be rendered obsolete."
Remember good old floppy disks? I imagine CDs are heading the same way. Watch out for USB ports in future car models in lieu of CD players.
VCRs are nearly obsolete. DVD players will eventually be, too, when Blu-Ray finally pulls out on top.
Technology is constantly evolving, and in ways we would never have imagined 10 or 15 years ago. That's what makes it so fascinating, and a bit scary.
Post a Comment