Media Technology - Communication Boon! (A Summary of 4 Technologies - Part 4 of 4)

Telephone Media Technology

While the development of the telephone is, in my opinion, perhaps one with the greatest impact on interpersonal communications, I would not say it is the greatest achievement in media technology. The telephone came about by the need for people to communicate faster and more efficiently. Telephone technology is basically “an instrument which converts sound to electrical impulses of various frequencies, and then back to a tone that sounds like the original voice” (Henderson, n.d.). Telephone technology has developed from units dependent on being linked to each other through miles of cable (i.e. “land lines) and routed through switchboards, to wireless cellular phones dependent on tower receiving and transmitting. There are still applications for land lines and satellite phone services, particularly for business and facsimilie use, however the biggest growth has been in the cell phone market. Telephones have evolved from numbered rotary dials to push buttons, then on to digital touch screens. Today, one’s “smart phone” has replaced numerous gadgets as it has the ability to be not only a phone, but a personal computer, navigator, calculator, alarm clock, encyclopedia research tool, and still photo and movie camera with editing capability, to name just a few applications. Games can be played on phones, often over the internet against other players. Communication with others is not limited to voice interaction, but now people can see each other through real-time video, or they can text (type) in messages to each other and send video or photo files to each other through their phone. Movies can be watched on “smart phones” as well as created. The possibilities seem endless. That said, advertisers have found ways to promote their products through telephone media technology, and it is extremely effective.

           My personal experience with “smart phones” is rather limited. I only recently purchased one and possibly only use about 10% of its capability. I do not enjoy researching how to use it, do not enjoy exploring its capabilities and, personally, do not enjoy being so readily accessible to people. I get irritated when I see people out in public staring at their phone screens like zombies rather than visiting and interacting face-to-face with other people. When I am visiting with friends I make a conscious effort to leave my phone in my truck so that I am fully present with the people around me. To see parents’ eyes glued to their phone screens, rather than interacting with their children and being fully present in the moment, grieves me. While I do appreciate the benefits of technology, particularly telephone media technology, I feel it has gotten to the point where people are addicted to their phones and have forgotten the art and necessity of face-to-face communication. 
           Media technology has given us some wonderful communication tools, with amazing capabilities. While I have my personal favorites, all four which have been summarized here are in my repertoire. When looking back at the invention and development of each of these, I cannot help but wonder what the future holds for print, radio, television, and telephone media technology.

References

Print Power (n.d.). Why print media? Print Power. Retrieved from: http://www.printpower.eu/Why-Print-Media

Henderson, C. (n.d.). The History of Communication Technology – Telephone. Retrieved from: http://www.personal.psu.edu/jtk187/art2/telephone.htm

May, A. (2013, August 9). Why radio is still relevant in a digital age. Radio – The ultimate media survivor? Just Media, Inc. Retrieved from: http://justmedia.com/2013/08/why-radio-is-still-relevant-in-a-digital-age/

Stephens, M. (n.d.). History of television. Grolier Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.nyu.edu/classes/stephens/History%20of%20Television%20page.htm