In Chapter 24, McLuhan divided our human history (means of communication) into four periods. However, the one that is most intriguing to me is the Electronic/Digital age, probably because I have been born right into it. But the Digital age is a splint of the Electronic Age, which encompasses a lot. The electronic ages includes electronic media devices starting from the telegraph, telephone and radio all the way through to cell phones, computers, PDAs and MP3 players. I don't know whether I'd be able to function without any of these things because they have become so entwined in our everyday life, as a Global village. Griffin describes a Global village as "a worldwide electronic community where everyone knows everyone's business and all are somewhat testy" (p. 317). It's so true, because who don't you know about these days? Whether it is Joe Schmoe or some celebrity... you can find anything about anyone in the click of a button or quick call. The instant methods of transferring information or communication as changed greatly and continues to change. Everything gets faster, or smaller and that seems to be the direction that electronics go these days. Anything more compact is considered more "convienent" as I know I've seen the beginning of cell phones and computers (how big and bulky they were) to what they are now.... sleek, slim and tiny!
I'm interested to see what the Digital age continues to bring...
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2 comments:
I don't think I could function either without the electronic media you mentioned. Maybe I could, if nobody else had them either. Then we would be on an even playing field. It's so true that we can find out anything and anyone just by looking them up on our computers. It's funny to look back at the past when we didn't even use cell phones. Life was much more simple. But just because life isn't as simple anymore it doesn't mean it is too complicated. We have so much more to learn about and discover. It's exciting and I can't wait to see what we come up with in the next 40 or 50 years.
I definitely agree that it would be hard to survive without these electronic/digital tools that we have grown so accustomed to using. Like you said, we were born into this epoch of technology, which has made us so dependent on these things. We cannot even imagine what it would be like to live without them, because they were made readily available to us right when we could use them. We have never known any other way of life. Most of these tools are luxury items that we are spoiled and lucky to have. But I truly believe the cell phone was one of the best inventions in the digital age. I cannot imagine driving around in my car, all by myself, without a cell phone. It would be so dangerous, if you were to breakdown, get in an accident or get lost and have no way of contacting someone. I guess this is my way of justifying my dependency on cell phones and technology. I also agree with Griffin's view about the global village, as far as people sticking their nose in other's business. Anything you could ever need or want to know about someone else, is just one click away. It is kind of scary how much information you can drudge up on anyone or anything, on the internet. This “instant” way of life, can make it quite easy to take things for granted. In a sense not having to wait for or work hard for things, makes this instant gratification a form of addiction. Why would we need to be patient when we are so used to getting what we want, when we want it. Whether it is information, communication, objects, entertainment or anything else, technology is continually on to the next best thing, as quick as possible. What happened to “stop and smell the roses”?
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